There are no other storms like hurricanes on Earth. Views of hurricanes
from satellites located thousands of miles above the Earth show how
these powerful, tightly coiled weather systems are unique. Hurricane
season begins on June 1 and ends November 30. Each year, on average, 10
tropical storms (of which 6 become hurricanes) develop over the
Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, or Gulf of Mexico. Many of these storms
remain over the ocean. However, an average of 5 hurricanes strike the
United States coastline every 3 years. Of these 5, 2 will be
major hurricanes, which are storms of category 3 or higher on the
Saffir-Simpson scale, which corresponds to hurricanes with winds at or
above 111 miles per hour.

Timely warnings have greatly diminished
hurricane fatalities in the United States. In spite of this, property
damage continues to mount. There is little we can do about the
hurricanes themselves. However, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA's) Tropical Prediction Center and National Weather Service (NWS)
field offices team up with other federal, state, and local agencies;
rescue and relief organizations; the private sector; and the news media
in a huge warning and preparedness effort.